AAI proposes separate runway to boost Vadodara airport capacity
Vadodara: The
Airports Authority of India
(AAI) has proposed the construction of a separate runway at Vadodara airport to support its expansion and improve operational efficiency.
The proposal was discussed during the airport advisory committee meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by
Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi
. It was resolved that a formal request for land acquisition to build a parallel taxi runway will be sent to the Gujarat govt.
"The proposal to acquire land for a parallel taxi runway will be forwarded to the Gujarat govt," Joshi told TOI following the meeting.
He also stated that Vadodara airport is fully equipped—both in terms of infrastructure and regulatory compliance—to handle up to 350 international passengers daily. Despite the airport's readiness, international flight operations are yet to begin, much to the disappointment of Barodians. The modern terminal building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.
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Although the airport received official clearance to begin international operations—along with a gazette notification enabling customs and immigration facilities in March 2023—airlines have cited a lack of available aircraft as the reason for the delay in launching international services.
Domestically, the airport has seen growth. "Our domestic passenger handling capacity has risen from 750 to 1,000 passengers per day," Joshi said. He added that AAI will soon write to domestic airlines to request increased connectivity to and from Vadodara.
Tuesday's meeting was attended by officials from the Vadodara collectorate, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, the Indian Air Force, CISF, and representatives from airline operators including IndiGo and Air India.
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